Air regulator for tuyeres



Dec. 27, 1932. -c. E. HARRISON ,892,052-

AIR REGULATOR FOR TUYERES Filed Oct. 29, 1929 Ajay/76 Gil Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CLIFFORD E. HARRISON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN V ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVAEIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA AIR REGULATOR FOR TUYERES Application filed October 29, 1929.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel and desirable means for controlling the volume of draft air passing to the individual elements of a furnace tuyere.

In mechanical stokers, and particularly in stokers of considerable length, maintenance of a uniform depth of fuel throughout is difficult, there being a tendency for the fuel bed to thin out at the rear end. For this reason and because the fuel requires different volumes of draft air for maximum efliciency in the different stages of combustion, it is highly desirable to provide means for controlling the flow of air to different sections or areas of the fuel bed. By the herein described invention, I have provided a device of extreme simplicity whereby the flow of air to the individual tuyere elements or blocks may be accurately controlled, said means being read ily adjustable to vary the air supply as required.

In the attached drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a section of tuyere comprising three superimposed tuyere blocks or elements and including air-controlled devices made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the tuyere section shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the aircontrolled device forming the subject of the present invention.

With reference to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a section of a tuyere of an inclined stoker employing tuyere elements or blocks of standard form. In the normal operation of the stoker, air is supplied to the tuyeres and to the individual tuyere elements from below the tuyere and through the open rear ends of the said elements, this space being enclosed and constituting the wind box of the furnace. As illustrated, each of the tuyere blocks designated by the reference numeral 1 is provided with a rear extension 2 in the form of a flat flange, which extensions Serial No. 403,244.

stance of a metallic clip adapted to embrace 5 and resiliently grip the rear ends of the flanges 2, see Fig. 1, each clip comprising an upstanding flange 4 composed of a plurality of closely arranged independent fingers 5.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, these fingers 5 project upwardly from the tops of the rear extensions 2 towards the under side of the corresponding extension of the next higher tuyere element, and thereby tend to obstruct the openings into the interiors of the individual tuyere elements through which the air supply enters these elements. WVith all of the fingers 5 in the upright position as illustrated in Fig. 8, there is obviously a maximum obstruction and interference to the en.- trance of the draft air. By bending down the tongues 5 or various ones thereof, the obstruction may be modified as required to give the individual tuyeres the required relative proportions of draft air. In Fig. 2, it will be noted that more of the fingers 5 are turned down in the lower members than in the upper whereby a greater volume of air is permitted to enter the lower tuyere cavities than the upper ones. The tongues 5 being small and relatively large in number makes possible a close adjustment of the air entering the tuyere elements.

Flexible metal has been found best suited for the manufacture of these elements, this having the necessary resiliency to frictionally grip the tuyere parts to which they are attached and also permitting bending down of the tongues 5 to an inoperative position without difliculty. It will be noted that the elements are somewhat shorter in length than the width of the tuyere block rear extensions to which they are attached. This is not essential, but is a desirable precaution, since at no time in normal operation is it desirable to entirely eliminate air from any section of the tuyere.

It is to be understood that form of the member 3 may vary considerably from that shown without departure from the invention.

I claim 1. A tuyere comprising a plurality of cavities constituting passages for draft air and having rearward extensions intermediate said cavities, and resilient metallic clips frictionally gripping said extensions and comprising a plurality of displaceable extensions projecting across the mouths of said cavities and constituting a means for controlling the flow of draft air throughthe passages.

2. In a furnace, a tuyere having a passage for draft air, a rearward extension on said tuyere, means mounted on said extension for controlling the flow of draft air through the said passage, said means comprising a plurality of members adapted to be adjusted to one position to obstruct the flow of air through said passage and to another position when it is desired to pass a greater amount of air through said passage.

3. In a furnace, a tuyere provided with a passage for draft air, a rearward extension on said tuyere, and a member adapted to be attached to said extension and having a plurality of individual elements adapted to be adjusted between vertical and horizontal positions to regulate the amount of air passing through said passage.

4. In a furnace, a tuyere comprising a plurality of cavities constituting passages for draft air, rearward extensions intermediate said cavities, and means mounted onrsaid extensions comprising a plurality of elements independently adjustable to control the flow of air through said cavities. Y

5. An article of manufacture comprising a metallic clip adapted to frictionally engage a rearward extension of a tuyere, said clip having a plurality of individualelements adapted to be adjusted between alternative positions to control the amount of draft air passing throughsaid tuyere.

6. An article of manufacture comprising an air regulator formed from suitable sheet material having means thereon for engaging a furnace tuyere, and a plurality of independently adjustable elements for regulatin the flow of air through said tuyere.

An article of manufacture comprising an air regulator formed from flexible sheet material having means thereon for engaging a furnace tuyere, and a plurality of flexible elements independently adjustable to regulate the flow of air through said tuyere.

..8. In adevice of the class described, a 

